Chapter Summaries

Marlene borrowed Herman’s goblin alchemy notes and offered to teach him alchemy in exchange. After Herman kept Draco and Harry waiting through dinner, he led them toward the Hogwarts kitchens, but Harry used a map from her godfather to guide them through the castle.

• Marlene recognized the book as Kramer’s personal goblin alchemy notes and warned Herman that possessing it could cause trouble with other goblins.
• Marlene borrowed the notes and offered Herman a personalized alchemy study plan and help with his questions as equivalent exchange.
• Herman returned to Draco and Harry, who were waiting hungry after he had kept them in the library for hours.
• Herman led Draco and Harry toward the kitchen, but they got lost when the castle staircases changed direction.
• Harry showed them a limited Marauder’s Map made by her godfather and used it to choose the right corridor.

After sneaking into the kitchens for a late meal, Herman, Draco, and Harry attended Astronomy and encountered Professor Quirrell examining the forbidden third-floor door on their way back. Herman wondered whether Quirrell was after the Philosopher’s Stone, while Draco questioned why he had not greeted the professor.

• Herman, Draco, and Harry visited the kitchens, where a house-elf served them food and Hannah Abbott joined them before Herman’s remark about her weight sent her away.
• The three students attended Professor Sinistra’s midnight Astronomy lesson and grew drowsy during the class.
• On their way downstairs, Harry led Herman and Draco through a shortcut near the third floor.
• Herman spotted Professor Quirrell examining the heavy wooden door and pulled Draco into the shadows.
• Harry told Herman she had seen Quirrell near the door several times since term began.
• Herman wondered whether Quirrell sought the Philosopher’s Stone, and Draco asked why he had not greeted him.

Herman, Harry, and Draco encountered Quirrell outside a forbidden third-floor door and agreed to investigate it the following night. Before they could return to their dormitories, Snape caught Neville, Hugo, Ron, and then the three of them out after curfew.

• Herman suspected Quirrell had been investigating the forbidden third-floor door, though he and the others hurried away without finding out what was inside.
• Harry asked whether Herman and Draco wanted to investigate the door, and Draco eagerly agreed despite the school rules.
• Herman warned against going that night, but Harry set the investigation for the following night and Draco backed her up.
• Snape confronted Neville, Hugo, and Ron in the corridor for being out after curfew.
• Snape noticed Herman, Harry, and Draco and turned his attention to them.

Snape escorted Herman, Harry, and Draco back to the Slytherin Common Room after finding them out at night, then warned Herman not to distract Harry. Herman realized Snape had investigated him and put him on his watch list, and rejoined Harry and Draco inside.

• Snape let Neville, Hugo, and their companion return to Gryffindor without deducting points, then escorted Herman, Harry, and Draco to Slytherin.
• Draco told Snape that her father, Lucius, often praised him, but Snape responded distantly.
• At the Slytherin Common Room entrance, Snape stopped Herman and warned him that Harry needed a stable environment, not someone distracting her.
• Herman entered the common room, where Draco asked what Snape had said to him.

Herman read that Gringotts had been broken into and suspected the empty vault was the one Hagrid had visited, meaning the Philosopher's Stone plot remained on course. Harry questioned why he had looked at her, while Draco explained that the Ministry hoped to use the break-in to gain influence over Gringotts.

• Harry told Herman and Draco to meet her in the common room at midnight the next night, and Herman agreed after she threatened him with Bark Summoning.
• Herman bought a copy of the Daily Prophet and read that Gringotts had been broken into and the breached vault was empty.
• Herman recalled seeing Hagrid leave a vault with something tucked against his chest and suspected Dumbledore had arranged to remove the vault's contents beforehand.
• Harry asked Herman why he had looked at her while reading about the robbery, and Herman insisted he trusted her and knew Black had not done it.
• Draco said her father had visited Gringotts after the break-in and reported that Fudge hoped the incident would let the Ministry interfere in the bank's management.

Herman grew more suspicious about what lay behind the forbidden third-floor door and decided to investigate it that night. Neville then reported seeing Quirrell near the door and praised Snape for being considerate, while Draco agreed with him.

• Draco offered Harry a place as her second lackey and promised to protect her and help limit stories about Black in the Daily Prophet.
• Harry teased Herman by suggesting Black might have robbed Gringotts, leaving him unsure whether Black was involved and worried he might have helped an accomplice.
• Herman reasoned that the Philosopher’s Stone might be hidden behind the forbidden third-floor door and decided to inspect it that night.
• Neville, Hugo, and Ron came to Herman, and Neville asked whether he had gone near the third floor the previous night.
• Neville said he had seen Quirrell lingering by the forbidden door and Snape patrolling nearby, but thought Snape was decent because he let them go without taking points.
• Draco nodded along with Neville’s praise of Snape, while Herman privately questioned whether he or Neville was the one with something wrong.

Neville, Hugo, and Ron suspected Professor Quirrell and invited Herman, Draco, and Harry to help investigate him, but Herman and Harry declined. Harry then proposed that they investigate the treasure she believed Dumbledore had hidden on the third floor, linking it to Hagrid’s visit to Gringotts and the later robbery.

• Neville cited Quirrell’s nighttime visit to a restricted corridor, his use of a Vampire Monster in class, and his studies at Durmstrang as reasons to investigate him.
• Herman, Draco, and Harry refused to join Neville’s investigation, and Neville left with Hugo and Ron.
• Draco challenged Herman for backing out of their plan to investigate that night, but Harry said the three of them could investigate on their own.
• Harry reasoned that Dumbledore had hidden something valuable on the third floor and that Hagrid had collected it from Gringotts before the robbery.
• Draco accepted Harry’s theory that the third-floor treasure was what Hagrid had collected, while Herman privately recognized the flaws in her reasoning.

Herman, Harry, and Draco agreed to investigate the third floor that night, while Quirrell taught a lesson on dark magic in class. Neville, Hugo, and Ron conspicuously watched Quirrell, leaving Herman to suspect they were investigating him.

• Harry rejected asking Hagrid immediately and decided the group would explore the third floor that night.
• Draco called Herman to join her and Harry for Quirrell's Dark Magic Defence Class.
• Quirrell explained that dark magic was designed to cause harm, could have irreversible effects, and could erode its caster.
• Herman noticed Neville, Hugo, and Ron staring intently at Quirrell and judged their attempt to observe him unprofessional.

Herman, Draco, and Harry were summoned to Snape’s office after their flying class descended into disorder over Draco’s sidesaddle riding. Snape defended the students and deducted ten points from Slytherin, while McGonagall objected to his leniency.

• Quirrell dismissed Herman’s class after assigning an essay, and Herman joined Draco and Harry for flying class.
• Draco complained about the old Shooting Star brooms and insisted on riding sidesaddle; Harry backed her up despite demonstrating the proper astride position.
• Several students copied Draco, Crabbe fell off his broom, and the class grew chaotic until McGonagall intervened.
• McGonagall took Herman, Draco, Harry, and Madam Hooch to Snape’s office to discuss the flying-class misconduct.
• Snape agreed the brooms were old, deducted ten points from Slytherin for talking back, and excused Harry, prompting McGonagall to challenge his decision to spare them detention.

After Draco was warned by Snape and sent back to class, George and Fred provoked a flying contest that spiraled into a fight between Gryffindor and Slytherin. McGonagall stopped the brawl, took fifty points from each house, and ordered every student involved to write a self-criticism.

• Snape warned Draco not to repeat her behavior and sent her back to class after McGonagall and Madam Hooch left.
• George and Fred showed off their modified brooms and taunted the Slytherins into a flying contest.
• The contest turned into an aerial brawl, and Seamus's exploding broom knocked Goyle and two other Slytherins to the ground.
• Neville helped Hugo recover after a Slytherin knocked his broom off course, but Ron then collided with Hugo and Hugo broke his arm.
• McGonagall returned, used magic to bring the broomsticks down, took fifty points from Gryffindor and Slytherin each, and ordered the students to write self-criticisms.

After the flying-class brawl, George and Fred recommended Neville to Professor McGonagall as a promising Quidditch player. That night, Draco sneaked into Herman’s room, eager to explore the forbidden third-floor corridor, while Herman worried about how their visit would look to Snape.

• Professor McGonagall gave George and Fred detention for disrupting the first-years’ Flying Class, and Madam Hooch took the injured Hugo to the Hospital Wing.
• George and Fred told McGonagall they had spotted a promising Quidditch player, and she followed their gaze to Neville and agreed to speak with them.
• Draco complained about Herman’s shabby room before telling him she wanted to explore the forbidden third-floor corridor at midnight.
• Herman left his door partly open and worried Snape would misunderstand Draco’s nighttime visit.

Herman, Draco, and Harry prepared to sneak out into the castle early to investigate the mysterious door. Harry teased Herman about his closeness with Draco, then sent Draco off to change and asked Herman whether he wanted to watch her change.

• Herman worried that Snape might turn him into a potion-testing subject and tried to keep his distance from Draco’s suggestive nighttime outfit.
• Draco excitedly speculated about what they might find behind the door until Herman took her wrist, quieting her and making her blush.
• Herman went with Draco to fetch Harry, who mistook Draco’s blush for evidence that the two were making their relationship official.
• Herman explained that they were heading out early, and Harry said she would lead them past the castle patrols.
• Harry told Draco to change out of her dressing gown, then teased Herman by asking if he wanted to come in and watch her change.

Herman, Harry, and Draco slipped out of the Slytherin common room to begin their nighttime excursion. Harry used a modified Hand of Glory to guide them through the dark corridors, leaving them relying on its dim light.

• Herman changed into clothes better suited for moving freely and packed a few things before joining Harry and Draco.
• Harry led the group openly through the common room, where the students were too absorbed in their own activities to notice them.
• In the corridor, Harry revealed the Hand of Glory and a carefully maintained oil lamp, then lit the wick with her wand.
• Harry explained that the Hand of Glory hid the lamp's light from everyone except its holder, but her modification let Herman and Draco see it by holding her shoulders.
• Herman suggested using a brighter Muggle light, and Harry explained that Hogwarts's enchantments interfered with Muggle technology.

Herman, Harry, and Draco reached the locked door guarding a three-headed dog, and each of them peeked inside. They left the beast behind the closed door, with Harry admitting that three heads were too many for her taste.

• Herman, Harry, and Draco quietly followed Harry’s hidden route through the castle to a heavy wooden door.
• Herman tried pushing the locked door while armed with a short sword and shield, and Harry unlocked it with Alohomora.
• Herman opened the door and found a three-headed dog inside, then shut it again and told Harry and Draco what he had seen.
• Draco peered inside, froze at the sight of the dog, and quickly slammed the door shut.
• Harry entered to look at the dog, then came back out and said she was not fond of dogs with three heads.

Harry fought the three-headed dog but found that its magic-resistant fur made her spells ineffective, and Herman helped her escape with his enchanted shield. Outside the room, Harry looked to Herman to decide what they should do next.

• Herman suggested using dogs to communicate with the three-headed dog, while Draco suggested feeding it.
• Harry gave Draco the withered hand and lamp, and Draco bit Herman when she panicked at touching the hand.
• Harry entered the room and attacked the three-headed dog, but its heads and claws drove her into a dangerous position.
• Herman threw his shield to protect Harry, and then pulled her out of the room as the door shut behind them.
• Harry judged the dog to be a highly dangerous magical creature whose fur resisted most offensive spells, while Draco suggested they return another night.
• Harry turned to Herman and waited for him to decide what to do next.

Herman was forced to face the three-headed dog and discovered he could control his short sword with magic, though his attack barely hurt the creature. The dog remained poised to fight, while Herman had uncovered a more precise way to use his magic.

• Herman, Harry, and Draco debated ways to get past the three-headed dog, including explosives, poison, and Herman's sword.
• Harry pushed Herman through the door, where the three-headed dog immediately charged him.
• Herman raised his shield, which flared into a large golden barrier and stopped the dog's lunge.
• Herman instinctively used magic to lift and guide his short sword, refining the technique with the pathways of the Levitation Charm.
• Herman drove the sword into the dog's neck, but its muscles stopped the blade and the wound barely hurt it.

Herman fought the three-headed dog with a shield and Transfigured flying swords until Harry rescued him with her black dogs. The group escaped the room together, leaving the dog battering a damaged door behind them.

• Herman Transfigured his playing cards into miniature flying swords, but they barely harmed the three-headed dog and only enraged it further.
• As the dog's attacks broke through Herman's shield, Harry opened the door and summoned black dogs to distract the beast and drag Herman to safety.
• Harry shut the door behind them, then told Herman that saving him made them even; Herman accused her of pushing him in to test whether her dogs could communicate with the three-headed dog.
• Harry recalled her black dogs after they began dissolving under the three-headed dog's attacks, and the beast resumed ramming the damaged door.
• Harry took back the shriveled human hand and oil lamp from Draco, and she, Draco, and Herman began heading back together.

Herman, Harry, and Draco tried to avoid Quirrell and Marlene in the corridor after leaving the three-headed dog. Harry concealed them beneath an Invisibility Cloak, and they remained cramped together as the professors approached.

• Herman, Harry, and Draco walked back through the corridor, trading jokes about the three-headed dog and Herman's suggestion to poison it with chocolate.
• Herman and Harry heard Quirrell and Marlene approaching and recognized them discussing something precious on the third floor.
• Harry unfolded an Invisibility Cloak and covered herself, Herman, and Draco just before the professors reached the corner.
• Harry covered Draco's mouth to keep her quiet, and Draco elbowed Herman after mistaking his gesture for another attempt to silence her.
• Herman shifted beneath the cramped cloak, and Harry pressed his injured shoulder while the footsteps drew nearer.

Herman, Harry, and Draco escaped notice beneath Harry’s Invisibility Cloak after overhearing Quirrell and Professor Malin discuss Fluffy and the obstacles protecting the Philosopher’s Stone. Quirrell and Malin found the damaged door, repaired it, and went to check on Fluffy, where Malin noticed the dog was shedding.

• Herman, Harry, and Draco hid beneath Harry’s Invisibility Cloak as Quirrell and Professor Malin passed by, discussing Fluffy’s agitation and the professors’ obstacles.
• After Quirrell and Malin continued onward, Draco questioned Harry about the cloak, and Herman urged them to keep moving.
• Quirrell noticed a crack in the door and told Malin that someone had disturbed Fluffy, while explaining that he could pass the dog because Hagrid had introduced him.
• Quirrell repaired the door with his wand and entered the room with Malin to check on Fluffy and the obstacles.
• Fluffy growled at Quirrell and Malin before recognizing Hagrid’s name, and Malin asked whether the dog was shedding.

Quirrell and Marlene investigated an apparent attempt to reach the Trapdoor, but Fluffy attacked Quirrell before they put him to sleep. On the way back, Snape offered Quirrell a healing potion and challenged his decision to expose first-years to a Vampire Monster, leaving Snape caught off guard when Quirrell immediately agreed to change his lessons.

• Quirrell noticed Fluffy's missing patches of fur and tried to cast a Hair-Thickening Charm, but Fluffy attacked and bit his arm.
• Marlene struck Fluffy with red beams to free Quirrell, then used metal cubes to put the dog to sleep.
• Quirrell and Marlene found no signs that the Trapdoor had been opened, and Quirrell healed Fluffy's bald patches before leaving.
• Snape encountered Quirrell, pressed his wound, and offered him a special potion.
• Snape challenged Quirrell's decision to make first-years face a Vampire Monster, and Quirrell agreed to postpone practical lessons and use safer substitutes.